The Digital Fix: Music

Eli 'Paperboy' Reed New Album / Gig Details

COME AND GET IT! ELI 'PAPERBOY' REED NEW ALBUM / LONDON SHOW ANNOUNCED

US soul sensation Eli “Paperboy” Reed has announced the release of his brand new album, Come And Get It. It will be the follow-up to his first two independently-released albums (Sings Walkin' and Talkin and Other Smash Hits! and Roll With You), Come And Get It is Reed’s major-label debut.

On Come And Get It Reed proves to be the life and soul of a swinging, sweaty party in which everyone gets dragged onto the dance floor. As a performer, he approaches each song with nothing less than utter conviction; he’s as authentically gritty as he is ingratiatingly sexy. Reed incorporates the feel of classic R&B, blues and soul into a largely self-penned, 12-song set, produced with Mike Elizondo, the bassist-turned-producer whose credits include, among others, Eminem, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Fiona Apple. Admirers have likened Reed to such greats as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett; the Boston Herald called him "Brooklyn’s answer to Sam Cooke". But he’s not merely trying to recreate a sound; Reed is channelling his influences and inspirations into making something all his own.

“For me,” says Reed, “it’s just about writing pop songs. Those are the kind of artists that I was influenced by and those influences are a big part of what I do. When I pick up a guitar to write a song, that’s how it comes out. For me, that music has been completely internalized. I’m not trying to put anything on; this is what comes out, this is what happens, I can’t sing any other way than I do.”

In advance of Come And Get It’s April release, Eli “Paperboy” Reed flies into the UK to play his first UK show in almost two years. Bringing his full band with him Reed will be debuting numbers from his new album alongside the rabble-rousing favourites from his previous work. This one-off gig is at the 100 Club on January 13th. Tickets are available from the box-office and the usual ticketing outlets.